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What are the visa options for retirees moving to Thailand, specifically regarding the O-A and O visas for a trailing spouse?
Visa rulesO-A visaO visaVisa for spousesChiang RaiAir quality in ThailandDTV visaLTR visaPensioner visaBank requirements for visa
Nov 16, 2024
a year ago
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER# Thanks for the invite! I am 60 years old and recently retired. My wife is only 46. We are citizens of the US. We are thinking of Chiang Rai because of the air quality and smaller size of the city. We are trying to figure out the best way to obtain the visa. For myself it looks like the O-A visa for one year is our best option (though renewing every year seems like a hassle). The O-X for five years seems nice, but we hate to lock-in a good chunk of money in a bank account just sitting there unused. We do have investments at Fidelity that has partnered with the Krungthai Bank, but even if we tied our accounts to that bank, not sure if it counts as a "fixed" deposit even if my pension went into the account (the Thai Bank would still have a fairly low balance). Now concerning my wife, I heard there is an "O" visa that attaches to mine "O-A" visa? I am not sure how this works. Is it still for a year? What is needed on her end? I truly appreciate any help that you can give! Thank you.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, a 60-year-old retiree with a 46-year-old wife, is considering moving to Chiang Rai and is seeking information on visa options. The most suitable visa seems to be the O-A visa for a year, but they hesitate due to annual renewal hassles and financial requirements. Comments suggest alternatives like the O visa, which does not have insurance requirements, and recommend checking with their embassy regarding visa options for the spouse. Additionally, there are concerns about air quality in Chiang Rai during burning season, prompting suggestions for relocating to areas with cleaner air. Overall, there is guidance on visa types, bank requirements, and geographical considerations.
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Tim *******
i didnt read all replies but maybe already answered -- you get a non-OA visa in UsA from RTE not a non-o with that you get a spouse non-o. you can also get a spouse visa with a LTR or DTV if you qualify (IMO the later 2 are better if you qualify) important thing here is if anyone says you can get a visa for yourself AND spouse IN thailand they are wrong FYI2 i trade thru Interactive brokers for years and dont use phone sms to log in however not that i need it but i have kept my overseas phone mobile for various reasons at $2.5 a month (note i have no connection or experience with USA)
Duncanc **********
Air quality 😁😂
Jack *****
25km west of Chiang Rai ..........yesterday.... during the burning season... I could not see the mountains...
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jack ****
Wow... crazyReply to
Scott *********
Reply
Robert **********
The air quality in Chiang Rai is extremely poor. You are better off to look at the coast east of Bangkok. Around Rayong is good. Not far to Pattaya or Bangkok. Good shopping. Clean air. Others can answer the visa questions for you.
Brandon ************
@Robert *********
I wouldn't say clean air in Bangkok. But definitely better than the northJyrki *********
@Brandon ***********
in our village 60 km from CR City Air quality IS never as Bad as in Bangkok.Robert **********
@Brandon ***********
.....you misunderstood. Bangkok and Chiang Mai both have the worst air quality in Thailand. But living in or near Rayong if one needs to go to Bangkok or Pattaya, it is not long on the expressway. I have been all over the country and finally settled on Mae Rampheng beach. Quiet and peaceful with just enough nightlife. Not far and not long to the madness.Reply to
Robert **********
Reply
Eric **********
I have Fidelity account too. I’ll bet you already use My Voice Verify. Leave/get standing wire orders with them before you leave. If you have a Skype local number there you can just call in anytime and initiate a wire to your bank here in Thailand. Easy and cheap.
Marty *********
I came to Thailand on an OA visa in 2017. In 2019 Thailand imposed an insurance requirement to this visa. I have Thai insurance and had my OA for 6 years. I suggest that you carefully review your insurance coverage before committing to an OA. Also, I am not sure if the insurance you use to get your original OA visa will qualify when you do your OA yearly extensions inside Thailand. I know my Thai insurance did qualify.
Personally I recommend that you pursue an O visa for yourself. There is no insurance requirement with an O visa. I am not suggesting you shouldn’t have insurance but you may not want to tie it to your visa.
For both the OA and O visas you eventually get to the point of extending (not renewing) one year at a time. The process and cost of extending both visas is the same except for the OA insurance requirement.
I actually switched from my OA to a 10 year pensioner LTR visa. The LTR visa is offered through the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Google BOI LTR to see the requirements for this visa if you are interested. There is an insurance requirement. No 90 day reporting requirement. No yearly extensions. You need $80,000/yr passive income.
I agree with others that the air quality in Northern Thailand is notoriously bad for part of the year.
Personally I recommend that you pursue an O visa for yourself. There is no insurance requirement with an O visa. I am not suggesting you shouldn’t have insurance but you may not want to tie it to your visa.
For both the OA and O visas you eventually get to the point of extending (not renewing) one year at a time. The process and cost of extending both visas is the same except for the OA insurance requirement.
I actually switched from my OA to a 10 year pensioner LTR visa. The LTR visa is offered through the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Google BOI LTR to see the requirements for this visa if you are interested. There is an insurance requirement. No 90 day reporting requirement. No yearly extensions. You need $80,000/yr passive income.
I agree with others that the air quality in Northern Thailand is notoriously bad for part of the year.
Julian *******
If you want good air then the Andaman coast in phang Nga is the best plus the south is utterly beautiful
Phil ******
@Scott ********
the aie quality in Chiang Rai is bad during burning season. Think beaches down southJames *********
@Phil *****
Down South is where the smog appears when Indonesia is burning their fields. Couldn't see the sun in Phuket for days, a few years ago.Phil ******
@James ********
yes I do know. Not talking phuketReply to
Phil ******
Reply
Luit *****************
@Phil *****
And in my experience of last years you have to go deep south, even the bay of Phang Nga was quite foggy march 2023 when we were there.Paul ********
@Luit ****************
I was in Hua Hin for 6 weeks in March-April this year and the air was bad there as well.Reply to
Paul ********
Reply
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Phil *****
California wildfires has really messed with us even as far as Las Vegas, but normally it is fine here.Kool *******
@Scott ********
from the end of February until the end of May three countries, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, burn off their fields, and there are regular forest fires, with the weather patterns pushing all that smoke down over Chaing Rai and centering over Chaing Mai. It will be in the aqi range from about 150-250 over Chaing Rai, and hitting over 300 in Chaing Mai area. It gets bad enough in Chaing Rai that you can not see across the Mekong river. Just sayingReply to
Kool *******
Reply
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Phil *****
Hmmm, you and Brandon mentioned that... The AQI Air Quality Index has the average air quality for Chiang Rai as 32 "good" and Chiang Mai as 89 "moderate". I don't live there obviously so I'm pretty ignorant and certainly am not going to claim I know better, lol. How long is this "burning season" and what is it exactly? Crops?Brandon ************
@Scott ********
it's not burning season yetPhil ******
@Scott ********
here's a channel that talks about air quality regularly. ************************************************
Phil ******
@Scott ********
usually the AQ is pior for 5 months. Rice sugar cane and cornTerry ********
@Phil *****
they don’t grow sugar cane in the north.Phil ******
@Terry *******
yes grown in Myanmar and LaosReply to
Phil ******
Reply
Brandon ************
I'm a bit confused about your statement that you're looking at Chiang Rai because of the air quality. The air in Chiang Rai is just as bad as Chiang Mai during burning season, it's just not reported as much because chiang Mai is a much bigger city.
The trailing spouse non-O is not available in Thailand or any Thai embassy in SE Asia. So you need to check with your embassy in your home country where you will be applying for the non-OA and ask them if they will also issue your wife a non-O based on being a trailing spouse to your visa. If they will issue that visa, then you can both travel to Thailand and when your wife has about 30 days left on her entry stamp, she can apply for an extension based on your visa.
If your home embassy will not issue it, then you don't have a lot of options. Maybe look into getting a DTV visa for her. Or worst case the privilege visa but it's expensive.
The trailing spouse non-O is not available in Thailand or any Thai embassy in SE Asia. So you need to check with your embassy in your home country where you will be applying for the non-OA and ask them if they will also issue your wife a non-O based on being a trailing spouse to your visa. If they will issue that visa, then you can both travel to Thailand and when your wife has about 30 days left on her entry stamp, she can apply for an extension based on your visa.
If your home embassy will not issue it, then you don't have a lot of options. Maybe look into getting a DTV visa for her. Or worst case the privilege visa but it's expensive.
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
I'll try and contact the Thai Embassy in Los Angeles (I reside in Las Vegas). Thanks for the info!Reply to
Scott *********
Reply
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